Is your vehicle prepared for summer vacation?

Getting ready to go on a road trip? If you’re driving to your vacation destination, here are three great ways to make sure your trip goes smoothly:

Visit the mechanic. Prior to your vacation, make sure your vehicle has a general look-over by an expert. It’s better to take care of any issues that your car is having before you hit the road. Since heat affects pressure and wear on your tires, it’s a good idea to have those checked out too.

Prepare an emergency kit. Things can go wrong even with the best preparation. That’s why it’s advisable to have an emergency kit in your car. Make sure the kit includes first aid supplies, gloves, flares (in case you are stranded at night), a pump for your tires, a car jack and plenty of bottled water. Including medications, such as pain relievers and antacids and extra toilet paper is also a good idea. Traveling with a baby? Make sure you have spare diapers and wipes.

Give someone your itinerary. This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many families fail to let someone else know what route they plan to take and where they are going. Before you head out on your vacation, make sure a relative, neighbor or good friend knows your trip itinerary. This way someone has access to your travel plans at all times. If an emergency happens while you’re on the road, you’ll have someone to call that knows exactly where you are or at least where you are planning to be. Just don’t forget to charge your cell phone before you start each leg of your trip!